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Rangers tip Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nick Tepesch pitched six strong innings for his second win, and Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz each drove in runs to lead Texas to its sixth victory in seven games.

The Rangers downed the Minnesota Twins, 2-1.

Tepesch (2-1) allowed five hits in 6 2-3 innings. He shut the Twins out through six before Josh Willingham homered in the seventh inning to make it 2-1. The rookie right-hander had allowed only two baserunners up to that point and showed no lingering effects from taking a liner off his right forearm in his previous start against Seattle last weekend.

Royals 8, Tigers 3, 10 innings

DETROIT (AP) — Alex Gordon’s grand slam highlighted a five-run 10th inning for the Kansas City, which rallied against Detroit’s bullpen after Justin Verlander left with a thumb injury.

George Kottaras put the Royals ahead 4-3 with a bases-loaded walk off Phil Coke (0-3). Darin Downs came on for Detroit after that, but Gordon broke the game open one out later with his homer over the center-field wall.

Verlander is day-to-day with what the team said was cracked skin on his throwing thumb. The right-hander allowed two runs — one earned — in seven innings and left with a 3-2 lead. Bruce Rondon gave up the tying run in the eighth in his major league debut.

Tim Collins (1-0) got the win.

Red Sox 7, Astros 2

BOSTON (AP) — David Ortiz went 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, boosting his batting average over .500 as the Boston Red Sox won.

Ortiz, who also scored three runs, is 11 for 20 (.550) with five RBIs since returning last weekend. He missed 71 of last year’s final 72 games and most of the first three weeks this season because of a heel injury.

Boston has won 10 of its last 13 and taken the first eight series openers of a season for the first time in team history.

Clay Buchholz (5-0) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks. His ERA rose from 0.90 to 1.19.

Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 2

PHOENIX (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run home run in the fourth inning powered the Diamondbacks to a win over the Rockies.

Goldschmidt’s fifth homer of the year followed a single by Martin Prado and snapped a 1-1 tie. Goldschmidt’s towering drive down the left field hit near the top of the foul pole, and increased his team-leading RBI total to 18.

Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3

NEW YORK (AP) — With Derek Jeter making his first visit to the Bronx this season, Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer and New York used a flurry of early long balls to outslug Toronto.

Cubs 4, Marlins 3

MIAMI (AP) — Luis Valbuena hit a tie-breaking solo home run in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.

Nationals 8, Reds 1

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gio Gonzalez allowed just one hit in eight innings, and Denard Span and Danny Espinosa drove in three runs each to lead Washington to the victory over Cincinnati.

Dodgers 3, Mets 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Andre Ethier hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and Los Angeles, boosted by a sharp outing from Hyun-Jin Ryu, defeated New York.

Pirates 6, Phillies 4

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Gaby Sanchez homered and drove in three runs, and Garrett Jones hit a go-ahead, two-run double to lead Pittsburgh to a comeback victory over struggling Philadelphia.

White Sox 5, Rays 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Sale overcame a shaky first inning to combine with two relievers on a five-hitter and Adam Dunn homered to lead Chicago.

Orioles 10, Athletics 2

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Nate McLouth reached base four times and scored twice, Nick Markakis drove in two runs, and the Orioles opened their longest road trip of the season by routing the Athletics.

Mariners 6, Angels 0

SEATTLE (AP) — Carlos Peguero hit a mammoth homer in his first at-bat of the season and Kyle Seager had a two-run shot to help the Mariners beat the Angels.

Peguero hit his solo shot on a 3-2 pitch from Garrett Richards (1-1) in the third, 451 feet to deep center. The only two longer home runs in the stadium’s 12½-year history were 462 feet by San Francisco’s Barry Bonds (June 16, 2006) and 460 feet by Mariners’ Raul Ibanez (June 20, 2007).

It’s believed Peguero is the second player ever to hit the centerfield batter’s eye. The other was Mike Napoli in 2008.

Rookie Brandon Maurer (2-3) went 6 1-3 innings to pick up the victory. He allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked one.